Hydraulic tubing anchor for wells



Feb. 16, 1960 J. 8. PAGE, JR 2,925,128

HYDRAULIC TUBING ANCHOR FOR WELLS Filed July 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y r- "v IN V EN TOR.

J o/wv 5- PAGE, Je.

Amswzr J. s. PAGE, JR

HYDRAULIC TUBING ANCHOR FOR WELLS Feb. 16, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Filed July 6, 1954 E R. 2 W N A p. a M

Feb. 16, 1960 J, 5, PAGE, JR 2,925,128

HYDRAULIC TUBING ANCHOR FOR WELLS Filed July 6, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 y INVENTOR. L' JOHN S. P6 65, Je

United States Patent 2,925,123 a HYDRAULIC TUBING ANCHOR ronlwnrrs John S. Page, In, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to'Page 01] Tools, Inc., Long Beach, Calif., a corporation of. California Application July 6, 1954, Serial No. 441,528

7 Claims. (Cl. 166-121) This invention has to do with a well tool and is particularly eoncernedwith a tubing anchor employed in a well casing to facilitate cementing, acidizing and pumping operations, or the like, which take place in the well. It is a general object of the invention to provide apparatus of this general character which is of simple, practical, economic construction and which is dependable and effective in action. This application is co-pending with my application entitled Hydraulically Boosted Anchor For Wells," Serial No. 441,280, new Patent 2,859,841, filed on an even date herewith.

It is not uncommon to employ a string of tubing in awell, for instance; within a-well casing to pump fluid from or into the well as, for instance, from or into the lower end portion of the casing. Such pumping or cementing operations involve the handling of fluids at high pressure and at variations in pressure, all ofwhich make it highly advantageous that the lower end portion of the tubing employed in carrying out such-an operation be anchored or secured in the casing against undesirable movement of shifting therein. i

It is an object of this invention to provide an anchor for handling tubing in a well whereby the lower end portion of the tubing is established in gripping engagement with the casing of the well so that it does not move or shift therein.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus of the general character referred to wherein a gripping mechanism is provided in or carried by the tubing in combination with. a fluid control valve and a piston or packer, which gripping mechanism is adaptedto be actuated by increased fluid pressure to grip the casing in which the tubing is located.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tubing anchor of .the general character referred to which is characterized by a simple, practical, improved means for. operating a hydraulic gripping mechanism at a fluid pressure greater than the fluid pressure in the well surrounding or at the tool. :Withthe construction of the present invention the affected area of the element operated upon by fluidwithin the well casing is greater than the effective area of the element supplying fluid. under pressure to the gripping means of the tool. l

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood frorii the'following detailed description of the typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through atypical well, showing the casing and showing the anchor of the present invention in elevation and as his when being lowered into the well. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 33 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailedtransverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-.4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed trans- A, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is atransverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed portion of the structure taken, as indicated by line 7-7 on Fig. 2, and Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1

showing how the tool of the present invention can ,be. reversed to be responsive to a head of pressure above;v

the tool.

The anchor X of the present invention is adapted to be operated in a well casing Y, which may be set or fixed in a well. A fluid handling'tubing Z is provided within the casing and extends downwardly therein tothe desired depth to establish open communication with the interior of the casing, or, if desired, with the bore of the well below the casing.

The tool that i provide is particularly adapted for use during cementing operations, wherein a slurry of cement is urged downwardly through the tubing and into the well structure, under pressure, and in which case the lower end of the tubing Z can be open and un-- obstructed to allow for the free flow of fluid upwardly,

and/ or downwardly through the tubing, as circumstances require. s

In accordance with the present invention the tubing Z is considerably smaller in size than the casing Y with.

the result that there is an open space orannulus 10 be: tween the casing and the'tubing. In-practice, the anchor X is carried by the tubingZ and may beinserted in or connected to the tubing, intermediate its ends, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawingsf. Inaccordance withwell con-. "struction the, upper end of the anchor X isinternally threaded at 11 and is threaded onto the lower .end..of

verse sectional view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on the upper section of the tubing Z, while thevlower end of the anchor, X is internally threaded at ;12 and is threaded into the" upper end of a section of the lower.

section of the tubing Z. g

The hydraulic tubing anchor X of the present invention involves, generally, a frame A threaded at 11 and 12 as above described and adapted to be inserted in the string of tubing Z, a gripping means B carried on the frame -A preferably at the center portion thereof and adapted to have anchoring engagement with the casing Y, pressure boosting means C carried on the frame A preferably at the lower end thereof and adapted to increase hydraulicpressure which is used to operate the gripping means B, and a valve D carried on the frame A preferably atthe upper end thereof and adapted. to pass fluid between the interior and exterior of the frame A when the valve is open and to stop .flow of fluid.

when the valve is closed so that the ,means C is operated.

The frame A is an '"elongate tubular element thatis round in; cross section and is characterized by a flow passage '13 extending continuously therethroughfrom the top to thebottom thereof. Asshownin the drawings, the frame A may be sectional and involves an upper valve section 16, coupling section 14 and a lower section 15. The, valve section 16 is provided at the upper.

end of the frameA and carries the threaded portion 11 above referred to. Section14 has .a central bore ligand is threadedly engaged to the lower end of section ,16 and has a downwardly opening threaded counterbore lS. The bore 17 threadedly reeives the upperend of the, lower section 15,while the counterbore 18 thjreadedl-y receives the upper end of the means B hereinafter described It will be apparent that the flow passage'f 13 extendingthrough the body A establishes open communication'with the sections of the tubing Zat the upper and lower end of the anchor, with the result thatthe flow" of fluid through the tubing is not interrupted by the pres ence of the anchor.

The upper portion of the lower section 15 is screw threaded into the bore 17 and is an elongate part that" depends from the coupling section and connects with YPatented Feb. 16, 1960- which-joins the tool to the lower section of tubing Z. The

section' lS ischaracterized by a smooth cylindrical outer wall 2-1which extends between the threaded upper and lowerend portions of the section. In thepreferred form of the invention the wall'21 has a portion 21 of reduced diameter which receives or accommodates elements of the means 3 and provides for fluid passage.

The upper valve-section 16 has a threaded upperend portion 22 screwed into a coupling in which the threads 11 are established 'and which joins the tool to the upper section of the tubing Z. The lower end portion of the section 16 threads into the coupling section 14. The section 16-is characterized by a smooth cylindrical outer wall 23 which extends continuously between-the threaded upper and 'lower '-end portions *of the section.

The gripping means B provided by the present invention involves, generally, an elongate tubular body 24, .a plurality of circumferentially spaced shoes, preferably includingan abutment shoe 25, and 'a plurality of working shoes 26. The means B further includes mounting means 27 mounting theabutment shoe ina fixedposition on the body, mounting means 28 mounting the working shoes on the body for movement radially relative thereto, and operating means 29 acting to'move the Working shoes radially into engagement with the casing Y. "The body 24 of the meansiB'is in the form of 'a-sleeve 30 slidably engaged on the cylindrical outer'wall 21 of the frame section 15. The body 24 has athreaded-upperv end portion 31 screw threaded into the counterbore 18, and-an enlargement 32 at its lower end threaded at 33 and=adaptedto be 'joined or coupled to the means'C hereinafter described. I

Hie-abutment shoe "251s carried -on the exterior of the body "24,'that is, on the'exter'iorof the sleeve 3'0 -of the body, and, in accordance with the invention, it has apredetermined-or fixed working position relative to the bodyso that it forms an abutment member engageable with'the casing to provide a rigid or unyielding support establishing the body of the anchor in the'casing against movement or shifting relative thereto. In the preferred form of'theinvention the outer face 34 of the abutment shoe 25 is convex and is preferably finished or'provided with teeth to haveeifective gripping'engagement with the wall of the-casing Y. The abutment shoe may, in practice, be made as an integral part or projection on the body'24. 'However, it is preferred that it be joined to or mounted on the'bo'dy by the mounting means 27 as shown in the drawings.

The particular mounting means 27 illustrated in the drawings, involves a longitudinally disposed portion 35 on the exterior 'o'f the sleeve 30, which-is provided with a "longitudinal guideway 36 'with opposed walls. The abutment shoe is carried in the guideway and has 'a invention illustrated, an insert or liner 39 is provided behind the shoe or between the back 40--of the shoeand the bottom 41 of the guideway. The liner is shown secured in position by screw fasteners 42. It will be apparent from the drawings how the liner or insert 39 positively determines the working position of the abutment shoe 25,. and it willybezapparent thatby varying liners, that is, by using liners of different thicknesses the effective position of the-shoe maybe varied.

7 .In the preferred form. ofthe invention, I provide two working shoes 26 circumferer1tially-spacedgpggrt nd from the abutment shoe 25. The several shoestl sand H 26 are preferably,equally spaced,around the hody as illustrated "in the drawings;

Each working shoej;26 i'sprovid edi -With a mounting means 28 by which it is mounted on the body 24 and, in the preferred form of the invention, eachmounting means 28 involves a laterally disposed portion'43 .on the exterior of the sleeve 39, which has a longitudinal guideway 44 with opposed guide-faces; The shoe carried by 'the guideway has an enlarged base'portion 45 that: slides in the guideway'44' and'inwardly projectingIfianges 46 are provided at the outer part of the guideway 'to overlie the base portion '45 topositivelyprevent radial displacement wof-the shoe-fromv the guideway. 'Theshoe carried in--the guideway has-a convex outer face '47 pref: erably finished or provided .with. gripping teeth or :the like, and the structure is such that when the; sh efis re-' tractedits outerrface is" substantially concentric with the outer face 147 of the portion 43 and when the shoe is extended -its outerface is. beyond the said portion and fits in 'or substantia-lly conforms to the, (contour of the. interiorof'thecasing Y; a, V l

In accordance-with the present invention therernay be a plurality of shoes 25 and 26 carried in theguide ways '36 and 44 respectively. As shown, the shoesarc' retained in the guideways' by the enlargement 32 at the lower endof'the body-2'4 andby a collar-.50 threaded onto the upper end of the 'body:24.' The enlargement and the-collarare provided 'to close the ends of the guideways to :retain 'the shoes therein.

The operating means 29 is actuated by fluid pressure from Within the body 24 and acts to operate the working widened or enlarged base-portion 37 engaged between the opposing walls "of the guideway. Inwardly turned or projecting flanges 38"are provided at the 'outer part of the guideway-to 'overhang or overlie the enlarged "base portion 37"so that the shoe cannot become'radially displacedfrom the guidewaya i "Ina ccor'dance' with the present invention it is preferred that'th'e abutment shoe 25 have a fixed or predetermined Workingposition relative to the body, that'is, that it have a,work1"ng position from which'it will not move or shift when theanchor is inuse. In the particular case illustrate'd, the. structureis such that the rabutmentshoe may move'radially outwardbut it cannot move inward of the body from the predetermined working position. i The invention provides means for adjusting or varying the working position of the abutment shoe so that the; shoecan beset to operate. at a predetermined distance shoes radially of the body and into pressure engagement Withthe interior of the casing Y, while'the abutment shoe 25 bears ingthe casingand forms a'fixed pointposition' ing the body in a predetermined manner injthe casing Where there-is a plurality of workingshoes orwherje the workingshoes are sectional, as abovedescribed, it"is preferred that there be a unit of'Ithe operating means 29 for actuating each shoe section. Inthedrawings a plunger 5-1 isshown for operating each ,shoe or section andis carried in a radial'cylinder opening 52provided in the body 24, the openingextending from the interior or bore 53 of'the'body' to the exterior of 'the'enlargg. ment 32'atthe bottom of the guideway carrying the shoe or'section thereof. A suitablepacking ring or:sea'l 5 14 is provided to seal'theplunger in the. cylinder opening,

while the outerend of the plunger seats against or bears on the 'inner-or'back face j5fi'o'f the shoe section"; "With. this construction, which isjclearly illustrated in the drawing s, it wi-ll beapparnfthat fluid pr essurein'thefbody 24"actuat'es "theflplunge'r outwardlyso thatthetsect'ions of the working shoes are individually operated outward andinto suitable pressure engagementwith thecasing.

60 operatesin the annulus ltl and includesta tubular piston ;.sleeve 62 with a smooth cylindrical ;borei..63 slidably tcazriedson-the .lower ten'duotzthe itanteeseetien l5, and a drive piston 64 on the sleeve. The drive piston 64 is in the nature of a packer or the like, such as is commonly employed in connection with well tools of the character under consideration, and is a downwardly faced flexible cup-shaped part of rubber or like material. The piston 64 is vulcanized to one or more suitable rings 65 that seat against a downwardly faced shoulder 66 on the sleeve 62. A nut 67 is screw threaded onto the lower end of the sleeve 62 to retain the drive piston 64 in working position. The piston 64 has an outer peripheral lip 68 adapted to have sliding sealed engagement with the interior of the casing Y.

The fluid pressure generating element 61 is essential ly a cylinder and piston unit having a relatively small effective area so that an increased differential in pressure is created between the fluid pressure that acts upon the actuated element 60 and the fluid pressure which is delivered by the fluid pressure generating element 61. As shown, a cylinder 69 is threadedly engaged with the lower end of the gripping means B at 33 and has a smooth bore 70 that receives a piston head 71 at the upper end of sleeve 62. An end wall 72 closes the lower end of the cylinder 69 and is provided to retain the head 71 'in the cylinder. Inner and outer seals 74 and 75, such as O-rings or the like, are carried by the piston head 71 to provide sealing engagement with the sectionlS of the frame A and the cylinder 69. It is to be understood that suitable seals or the like, may be provided at various places'throughout the structure as indicated throughout the drawings and as circumstances require.

In accordance with the present invention a suitable fluid handling means 77 and a return means 76 are provided for the pressure boosting means C. The return means 76 is in the form of a simple compression spring 78 acting between the enlargement 32 and the upper end of the piston head 71 to yieldingly urge the actuated elemeat 60 to a down or unactuated position. The spring 76 is of sufficient strength to maintain the packer 64 in its lowermost position when the valve D is open and as the structure is lowered into the well. The fluid handling' means 77 involves a charging passage 81 which is closed by a plug 83 or the like. The reduced portion 21 of wall 21 conducts fluid from the means C to the cylinders of the gripping means. The passage 81 pro vided for charging the means B with suitable hydraulic fluid opens at the exterior of the body 24 so that it is accessible from the exterior of the structure.

The valve D is shown connected to the tubing Z as by a suitable coupling and is preferably a sleeve type valve adapted to be operated, that is, opened or closed by manipulation of the tubing. In the particular case illustrated, the valve is adapted to be operated by vertical movement or reciprocation of the tubing.

The -valve D involves one or more lateral ports or openings 85 provided in the frame section 16 at or near the lower end portion thereof, and further includes a sleeve 86 slidable relative to the tubular-body to vary in position relative to the body between an up or open position where it is above the ports 85, and a down or closed position where it is over or covers the ports 85. In actual operation the. sleeve. remains relatively stationary in the well casing 'Y and the body of the valve or frame'of the tool moves vertically to effect opening'and closing of the valve.

Suitable packing means, such as annular packings 87,

are carried by the sleeve at the end portion thereof and provide sealing engagement between the ends of the sleeve and the exterior of the body frame section 16. A suitable control means is provided and includes one or more casing engaging elements 88 which normally resist movement of the sleeve in the well casing. In the particular case illustrated, the members 88 are cireumfer- 86 and adapted to bear outwardly against the interior of the well casing.

With the construction just described the sleeve 86 will assume a position, such as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in the course of lowering the tubing into the well casing, the upper end of the sleeve 86 being stopped against the upper couplingthat connects the frame section 16 to the string of tubing. As the tubing is lowered the valve is moved downwardly in the casing against the resistance offered by the engagement of *the leaf springs 88 due to their frictional engagement withthe casing. When the construction has been lowered to the desired position or whenever it is desired to close the valve, upward movement of the tubing will result in rela tive movement between the valve body and the frame section 16 with the result that the ports willbe covered by the valve sleeve. f

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when the construction is lowered into the well casing, as during a cementingoperation, and the valve means D is open, the fluid in the'casing, below the packer 60 is displaced thereby and is caused to flow upwardly through the tub-" ing Z. The fluid in the tubing flows through the ports 85 of the means D and into the casing above the packet and seeks its own level in the casing, thereby placing the packer 60 in equilibrium in the wellfluid and so the' means C is not actuated to set the means '8. Upon limited upward movement-of the tubing, the valve; means is closed.

Upon subsequent introduction of a slurry of cement downwardly through the tubing, into the well, below the packer, and under pressure, balanced condition of the packer is upset and the means C is actuated to set the means B. t

When the tool is thus actuated and set, the tubing is suitably anchored in the casing and is not subject to being elevated in the well structure upon continued introduction of cement into the well. I

In the form of the invention illustrated in 'Fig. 8 of the drawings, the tubing anchor X is upwardly faced so that it is responsive to hydraulic pressure in the well occurring above the tool. The anchor X includes frame A threaded as above described in connection with the first form of the invention and adapted to be inserted in a string of tubing Z, a gripping means B carried on the frame A to have anchoring engagement with the casing Y, a pressure boosting means C carried at the center portion of the frame A and adapted to operate the gripping means B, and a valve D carried on the frame A at the upper end thereof. This form of the invention differs from the form first described in that the means B and C are oppositely disposed so as to faceupwardly. That is, the element 60 of the boosting means C faces upwardly and the gripping means 13 and pressure generating element 61' of the means C are below the element .60 to be operated thereby when a head of pressure. occurs above the tool. The boosting means C and gripping means B may be identical with and may be related to each other the same as set. forth above in describing the first form of the invention. It will be readily understood how this form of the invention will operate to secure the tubing Z in the well casing Y when desired. In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig; 8, when it is desired to pull the tubing, the valve D must be shifted upwardly to its open position to allow the fluid in the casing above the packer to drain through the ports 85' and into the tubing. The above opening of the valve means can be advantageously accomplished by theme of a suitable fishing tool (not shown), which tool is engaged in the casing from the top of the well, lowered into gripping or hooked engagement with the casing engaging elements of the valve D and then elevated the necessary amount to open the valve. The fishing tool s, zs t y d :to ma n ain th a e D, entire pulling operation.

from ;the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided an extremely simple and dependable anchor for-use in ;a well. casing or the like, which anchor grips the casing with increased pressure engagement. When it is :desired 'to set or anchor thetubing Z in the casing Y, the valveD is operated to close the ports 85, whereupon fluid is prevented from flowing into the annulus 10, above the anchor and pressure builds up in the annulus 10, below the anchor. -Up on ,increase of pressure in the annulus belowthe anchor, the piston packer 64 is urged upwardly and the piston head 71 is shifted upwardly in pen-during the the cylinder 69. Becausethe head.71 has a smaller effective area than the alfected area of the piston 64, there is a. differential in pressure which results in increased fluid pressure being delivered to the plungers 51 of the means 13. ltis to be'observed'that the pressure. boosting-means is'charged with-clean fluid so that thereis no hannful effect-upon the 'plungers 51 and cylinder openings 52. Asiset forth above, the tool can be faced upwardly or downwardly as {circumstances require.

- Having described (only; ;a typical preferred form and application of my invention, 1 do not wish to belirnited or ;restricted-;t;o the.;specifi c details herein set forth, but wish .to reserve to myself any avariations or modifications tha im y appeart th e .skille in the r and fall within th -scopent thezfellowing cl ims- Having described my invention, I claim: ,.;,1.,, A hydraulically operated tubing'anchor adapted to anchor a fluid conducting tubing string in a Well casing including, ,an elongate, tubular fluid conducting frame engaged .in a string ,of tubing, 1a, fluid operated gripping means carried by the frame and including a tubular body fiX dtotthef fameintermediate its ends and surrounding the frame, casing engaging shoes carried by the body for radialoutwardshiftingtrelative thereto, cylinder openings in the body formedgradially,inward'of the shoes and uhagers sin the-cylinder openings and engageable with the shoes; and fluid pressure boosting means adapted to deliver operating fluid under pressure to the cylinder openingsto shift the plungers andthe shoes radially outwardly including, acylinderatthe lower end of the body, alfluidpassage establishing open communication between the cylinder and the cylinder openings, said cylinder and fluid passage being charged with operating fluid, a tubular sleeve slidably carried on the frame adjacent the lower end otthe b dy, an annular casin ga g d v pist n on' the lower ,end of the sleeveto be acted upon by fluid pressure in thewell casingbelow the anchor, a piston head of "less effective cross-sectional area than thedrive piston atthe upperendof the sleeve and engaged in the cylinder, and spring means adapted-to normally yiledingly maintain the sleeve and the piston thereon in a down or unactuated position, said drive piston adapted to be shifted upwardly against the resistance of the spring means and to shift the piston head upwardly in the cylinder to actuate the plungers-and-s'hiftthe shoes into gripping engage ment withf-the casing upon the-introduction of fluid under pressure, through the tubing-string and into the casing belowi-theanchor.

12'. A hydraulically operated tubinganchor adapted to anchori-a fluid conducting tubing string in a well casing including, an elongate, tubular fluid conducting frame engaged in a string of tubing, -a.-fluid operated gripping means ;earri.ed by the frame and'including a tubular body fixed to the -frame intermediateits ends and surrounding the frame, casing engaging shoes carried by the body for radialoutwardgshiftin g relative'thereto, cylinder openings in the body formed radially inward of the shoes and plungers in the cylinder openings and engageable with the shoesj fluid'pressure boosting means adapted to deliver perating fluidunder pressure to the cylinder openings to 1 bit th fip uug rsqan thetshoes,r dia lyou ward y- .in-

sxliuu tatthmlewe eeudh :lthet todynafluid p ssage-est b sh ope ng ommunication ibe ween the cylinder and the cylinder openings,,said cylinder and fluid passage beingcharged with the operating fluid, a tubular sleeve slidably carried on the frame adjacent the lower end of thebody, an annular casing engaging drive-piston on the lower end of the sleeve to be acted upon by fluid pressure in the Well casing below the anchor, a piston head of less effective cross-sectional area than the drive piston at the upper end of the sleeve end engaged in the cylinder, and spring means adapted to normally yieldingly maintain the sleeve and the pistons thereon in a down or unactuated position, and valve means operable to direct fluid in the tubing string into the casingabove the anchor, when the anchor is being loweredinto the casing and including a port in the frame above the body, a valve sleeve slidably engaged on the [frame to normally occur above the port. thereon and elements carried by the valve sleeve and frictionally engaging the'casing to'maintain the sleeve engaged above the-port when the anchoris shifted downwardly jiI1"-th6 casing and 10 cause the sleeve to shift downwardly on the frame and to engage over and close the port upon limited upward shifting of the anchor in the casing, said drive piston adapted to be shifted upwardly against the resistance of the spring means and to shift the piston head upwardly in the cylinder to actuate the plungers and shift the shoes into grippingengagement with the easingwhen the port in the frame is closed. and upon th introdu ti n ffi d u d n sssu ethr us thc tu ing tring n cin othe cas nghelow-th ncho 3. A hydraulically operated tubing anchor adapted to anchor 21 fluid conducting tubing str ng in a Well casing 'includingau elongate, tubular, fluid conducting frame engaged in a string of tubing, a fluid operated gripping means .carried by the frame and including, a tubular body fixed to the frame intermediate its ends and surrounding the frame, ,a plurality of circumferentially spaced casing engaging shoes carried by the body, one of said shoes being fixed to the body and the other mounted on the 'body for radialoutward shifting relative thereto, cylinder openings in the body formed radially inwardly of the shiftable shoes and plungers in the cylinder openings and engageable with the shoes; and fluid pressure boosting means adapted to deliver operating fluid under pressure to the cylinder openings to shift the plungers and the shoes radially outwardly including, an elongate cylinder at the lower end of the body concentric with and surrounding the frame, afluid passage establishing opening communication between the cylinder and the cylinder openings, said cylinder and, fluid passage being charged with operating fluid, an elongate, tubular sleeve slidably carried on the frame adjacent the lower end of the body, an annular, downwardly disposed, cup-shaped drive piston on the lower end of the sleeve to engage the 7 interior of the casing and to be acted upon byfluid pressurein the casing below the anchor, an annular piston head of less effective cross-sectional area than the drive piston at the upper end of the sleeve and engaged in the cylinder, andspring means adapted to normally yieldingly maintain the: sleeve and the pistons'thereon inadownvor unactuated position, said drive piston: adapted to be shifted upwardly against the resistance of the spring a means and to shift the piston head upwardly in the cylinthe frame, a plurality ofjcircumferentially Spaced casing engag ng shoe carr ed by: the body, shea -s dshoes p the hadrand 4hr ccthsr maimed nn:

9, body for radial outward shifting relative thereto, cylinder openings in the body formed radially inward of the shiftable shoes and plungers in the cylinder openings and engageable with the shoes; fluid pressure boosting means adapted to deliver operating fluid under pressure to the cylinder openings to shift the plungers and the shoes radially outwardly including, an elongate cylinder at the lower end of the body concentric with and surrounding the frame, a fluid passage establishing opening communication between the cylinder and the cylinder openings, said cylinder and fluid passage being charged with operating fluid, an elongate, tubular sleeve slidably carried on the frame adjacent the lower end of the body, an annular, downwardly disposed, cup-shaped drive piston on the lower end of the sleeve to engage the interior of the easing and to be acted upon by fluid pressure in the casing below the anchor, an annular piston head of less effective cross-sectional area than the drive piston at the upper end of the sleeve and engaged in the cylinder, and spring means adapted to normally yieldingly maintain the sleeve and the pistons thereon in a down or unactuated position, and valve means operable to direct fluid in the tubing string into the casing above the anchor, when the anchor is being lowered into the casing and including, a port in the frame above the body, a valve sleeve slidably engaged on the frame to normally occur above the port thereon and elements carried by the valve sleeve and frictionally engaging the casing to maintain the sleeve engaged above the port when the anchor is shifted downwardly in the casing and to cause the sleeve to shift downwardly on the frame and to engage over and close the port upon limited upward shifting of the anchor in the casing, said drive piston adapted to be shifted upwardly against theresistance of the spring means and to shift the piston head upwardly in the cylinder to actuate the plungers and shift the shoes into gripping engagement with the casing when the port in the frame is closed and upon the introduction of fluid under pressure, through the tubing string and into the casing below the anchor.

5. A hydraulically operated tubing anchor adapted to anchor a fluid conducting tubing string in a well casing including, an elongate, tubular fluid conducting frame engaged in a string of tubing, a fluid operated gripping means carried by the frame and including a tubular body fixed to the frame intermediate its ends and surrounding the frame, a plurality of circumferentially spaced casing engaging shoes carried by the body, one of said shoes being fixed to the body and the others mounted on the body for radial outward shifting relative thereto, cylinder openings in the body formed radially inward of the shiftable shoes and plungers in the cylinder openings and engageable with the shoes; fluid pressure boosting means adapted to deliver operating fluid under pressure to the cylinder openings to shift the plungers and the shoes radially outwardly including, an elongate cylinder fixed to and depending from the lower end of the body concentric with and surrounding the frame, a fluid passage establishing opening communication between the cylinder and the cylinder openings, said cylinder and fluid passage being charged with operating fluid, an elongate, tubular sleeve slidably carried on the frame adjacent thelower end of the body, an annular downwardly disposed, cup-shaped drive piston on the lower end of the sleeve to engage the interior of the casing and to be acted upon by fluid pressure in the casing below the anchor, an annular piston head of less effective cross-sectional area than the drive piston at the upper end of the sleeve and engaged in the cylinder, and spring means including a compression spring in the cylinder to occur above the piston head and adapted to normally yieldingly maintain the sleeve and the pistons thereon in a down or unactuated position, and valve means operable to direct fluid in the tubing string into the casing above the anchor, when the anchor is being lowered into the casing and including a stop member at the upper end of the frame, a port in the frame below the stop and above the body, anelorigate, tubular valve sleeve slidably engaged about the frame to normally occur above the port thereon and against the stop and circumferentially spaced, radially outwardly projecting spring elements carried by the valve sleeve and frictionally engaging the casing to maintain the sleeve engaged with the stop and above the port when the anchor is shifted downwardly in the casing and to cause the sleeve to shift downwardly on the frame and to engage over and close the port upon limited upward shifting of the anchor in the casing, said drive piston adapted to be shifted upwardly against the resistance of the spring means and to shift the piston head upwardly in the cylinder to actuate the plungers and shift the shoes into gripping engagement with the casing when the port in the frame is closed and upon the introduction of fluid under pressure, through the tubing string and into the casing below the anchor.

6. A hydraulically operated tubing anchor adapted toanchor a fluid conducting tubing string in a well casing including, an elongate, tubular, fluid conducting frame engaged in a string of tubing, a fluid operated gripping means carried by the frame and including a tubular body fixed to the frame intermediate its ends and surrounding the frame, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally disposed rows of casing engaging shoes carried by the body, one row of said shoes being fixed to the body and the other rows of said shoes being mounted on the body for radial outward shifting relative thereto, cylinder openings in the body formed radially inwardly of each of said shiftable shoes and plungers in the cylinder openings and engageable with the shoes; and fluid pressure boosting means adapted to deliver operating fluid under pressure to the cylinder openings to shift the plungers and the shoes radially outwardly including, an elongate cylinder at the lower end of the body concentric with and surrounding the frame, a fluid passage establishing opening communication between the cylinder and the cylinder openings, said cylinder and fluid passage being charged with operating fluid, an elongate, tubular sleeve slidably carried on the frame adjacent the lower end of the body, an annular, downwardly disposed, cup-shaped drive piston on the lower end of the sleeve to engage the interior of the casing and to be acted upon by fluid pressure in the casing below the anchor, an annular piston head of less effective cross-sectional area than the drive piston at the upper end of the sleeve and engaged in the cylinder, and spring means adapted to normally yieldingly maintain the sleeve and the pistons thereon in a down or unactuated position, said drive piston adapted to be shifted upwardly against the resistance of the spring means and to shift the piston head upwardly in the cylinder to actuate the plungers and shift the shoes into gripping engagement with the casing upon the introduction of fluid under pressure, through the tubing string and into the casing below the anchor.

7. A hydraulically operated tubing anchor adapted to anchor a fluid conducting tubing string in a well casing including, an elongate, tubular, fluid conducting frame engaged in a string of tubing, a fluid operated gripping means carried by the frame and including a tubular body fixed to the frame intermediate its ends and surround the frame, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally disposed rows of casing engaging shoes carried by the body, one row of said shoes being fixed to the body and the other rows of shoes being mounted on the body for radial outward shifting relative thereto, cylinder openings in the body formed radially inward of each of said shiftable shoes and plungers in the cylinder openings and engageable with the shoes; fluid pressure boosting means adapted to deliver operating fluid under pressure to the cylinder openings to shift the plungers and the shoes radially outwardly including, an elongate cylinder at the lower end of the body concentric with and surrounding the frame, a fluid passage establishing opening communicat-ion between the cylinder and the cylinder openings, said cylinder and fluid passage being charged with operating fluid, an elongate, tubular sleeve slidably carried on the frame adjacent the lower end of the body, an annular, downwardly disposed, cup-shaped drive piston on the lower end of the sleeve to engage the interior of the casing and to be acted upon by fluid pressure in the casing below the anchor, an annular piston head of less effective cross-sectional area than the drive piston at the upper end of the sleeve and engaged in the cylinder, and spring means adapted to normally yieldingly maintain the sleeve and the pistons thereon in a down or unactuated position, and valve means operable to direct fluid in the tubing string into the casing above the anchor, when the anchor is being lowered into the casing and including a port in the frame above the body, a valve sleeve slidably engaged on the frame to normally occur above the port therein and elements carried by the valve sleeve and frictionally engaging the casing to maintain the sleeve engaged above the port when the anchor is shifted downwardly in the casing and to cause the sleeve to shift downwardly on the frame-and to engage over and close the port upon limited upward shifting of the anchor in the casing, said drive piston adapted to be shifted upwardly against the resistance of the spring means and to shift the piston head upwardly in the cylinder to actuate the plungers and shift the shoesinto gripping engagement with the casing when the port in the frame is closed and upon the introduction of fluid under pressure, through the tubing string and into the casing below the anchor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Baker Feb. 6, 1940 

